Replies

1. 
   Alan | Oct 18, 2004 06:07am | #1

   lynn,

   	19644.1
   	"I purchased some 12/4 cherry to use for bed posts."

   "I cannot afford to purchase 12/4 clear cherry nor is any available in this neck of the woods."

   I'm confused.

   Alan--again adding nothing.

2. 
   301 | Oct 18, 2004 07:15am | #2

   I understand what you mean...cherry is one of those woods that may be too difficult to dry in the form of 12/4 and not get checks.  In fact I wouldn't even fool with it, just get 4/4 or 5/4 and laminte boards up to get the 12/4 thickness you desire.  Seems like polar and mahogany may be 2 of the few woods you can dependably get thicker stock from. 

3. 
   joinerswork | Oct 18, 2004 08:38pm | #3

   lynn,

   I recently built a bed from 5" squares (walnut).  It was difficult enough to just find the stuff, that I couldn't afford to be too picky about the quality of the stock.  Here's what I did to deal with the checks, etc, in the walnut:

   I was starting with rough stock, so I dressed the squares to 1/8" or so over  finished size.  Some of the checks dressed out, many of the rest got littler.  The ones that were left, I filled with west systems epoxy, and clamped as well as I could.  If they were near an edge, or a corner, this was all that was needed to make them better.  Some were nearer  the center of one of the faces of the square, and wouldn't close with clamp pressure.  These, and other blemishes, I filled with "peanut butter" made by blending fine sanding dust with the epoxy, and packing it into the crevices. Then dressed to final thickness.

   When laying out the posts, it was possible for me to orient some of the checks so they would be turned away in the lathe.  When laying out mortises for the head and foot boards, and the rails, I oriented the worst of the remaining places so they were against the wall at the head end of the bed, or turned toward the center of the bed (under the mattress).

   A dark stain helps too!

   Good luck with your project,

   Ray

4. 
   Pondfish | Oct 19, 2004 04:14am | #4

   Build up your posts from thinner stock, but don't laminate it in a sandwich--mitre four pieces so you have four sides all showing the face.  If you start with a wide 4/4 board, you can wrap the four sides so the grain pattern continues around the post (though one edge won't match).  If you have a lock mitre router bit (or shaper cutter), you can use that for a strong joint.  You can leave the center hollow or have a 1x1 filling the void.  This way of building a post is an old arts & crafts trick, used to put quartersawn oak figure on all four faces of a post.

   For bed posts I would go for a figured board, or one with lots of pitch pockets.  Use oil/varnish to bring out the grain and figure, and give it a good lacquer topcoat.  It will shine for years.

   Good luck

   Paul